Computing made easy for the over 50s

This Friday, May 20^th is Silver Surfers Day. A press release from an organization called Digital Unite tells us that “Being online can improve the lives of the over 55s” and make them feel “with it”. A cringeworthy phrase, but let’s move on.

For those without it – i.e. the ability and knowledge to access the internet, plenty of help is at hand. As a first port of call, two new books from Which? would make a perfect gift or investment for anyone (over 55 or not) grappling with technology. Computing made easy for the over 50s is the perfect guide for helping people to gain confidence using a pc. It starts from a base of no prior computing knowledge and through illustrated, step-by-step tutorials, jargon busters and plenty of helpful tips leads the reader through sending emails, finding information on the internet, using Microsoft Word and Excel, staying safe online and much, much more.

The book is one of a series which includes Internet made easy for the over 50s, and another new title – Laptops and mobile devices made easy. Both are available from bookshops or can be ordered from www.which.co.uk/books (on the assumption you’re already online) or by phone: 01903 828557.

For any older people seeking a more hands-on approach as a starting point, this week (16-20 May) is also Digital Unite’s national Spring Online campaign. Around 2,000 free digital taster events are taking place across the UK in schools, colleges, libraries, UK online centres, cafes, community centres, communal lounges, offices and even pubs, helping thousands of older people to learn about using computers and the internet. To find an event online, visit www.ukonlinecentres.com and enter your town or postcode in the ‘Find a Centre’ search box. More details about the campaign are available at www.springonline.org or call free on 0800 77 1234.

Box clever – internet usage and the over 50s

Recent reports reveal that an extra million people over 50 went online for the first time in the past year, increasing the number of internet users from 36.9million to 38.8million. People over 50 accounted for 53% of the increase with men in this age bracket accounting for 38 per cent of growth (722,000).

A spokesperson from Nielsen, who conducted the research, maintained that this increase was because people were now more confident about security aspects of using the internet, and more sites now target the over 50s. Certainly the first point is likely to be accurate, but questions must be raised about the second when older internet users almost certainly spend the majority of their time online accessing the same sites as everyone else (banks, retailers, travel, entertainment). Plenty of evidence exists (including regular updates from mature marketing specialist Dick Stroud (
http://20plus30.blogspot.com/
) to show that the over 50s in general are not highly attracted to “older” websites. The “Saga” generation is less the over 50s and more the over 70s.

Our belief is that what has probably happened is that older men – who have been less likely to use computers and keyboards through work than older women – are now (no doubt influenced by the women in their lives!) realising the advantages and catching up. This reflects the classic marketing growth curve of new product development which proposes a pattern of early adopters, to mass market, late adopters and then the laggards. The truly elderly now represent the laggards with Age UK estimating that 70 per cent of those over the age of 65 have still to use the internet. 

The reasons for this appear to represent a mix of lack of ability, opportunity, confidence and support. Overcoming these will not be easy, particularly in these economic times when this may not be seen as a financial priority by public service providers. One potentially highly useful way forward was brought to my attention earlier this week at an academic conference on research methods.

Marcel Das from Tilburg University in the Netherlands was reporting on his use of the CentERpanel, an Internet-based research panel representative of the Dutch population aged 16 and over, administered by CentERdata at Tilburg University. He said, “Because not everyone owns a personal computer or has access to Internet, CentERdata provides a set-top box for people who do not have a computer, enabling them to complete the questionnaires online.” Apparently the set top box is the equivalent of a very simple computer enabling people to have internet access and to send emails. It is installed and supported by personnel from the CentERdata team who spend a considerable amount of time teaching people – particularly the more senior respondents – how to use the equipment.

This seems an excellent way forward as a means of increasing internet usage amongst a proportion of those – particularly the elderly – who currently are not web-enabled. The project is financed by a large European grant and the benefit to the overall community – through access to a large amount of panel data – is huge.

Time for the UK to think outside the box also?

http://arno.uvt.nl/show.cgi?fid=63036

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1290755/One-internet-users-50.html

 

Pardon me boy – is this the day for silver surfers?

Silver Surfers’ Day – This Friday, May 21^st

While going through my inbox a couple of days ago I came across a piece entitled “Chichester Design helps over-50s get online with Silver Surfers’ Day”.  This, of course, reminded me that this very worthwhile event is upon us again and this time has enlisted the help of such icons as Sir Terry Wogan and Dame Vera Lynn.

At in my prime we are very much a computer based organisation, know the potential and the benefits of being computer and internet literate, and very much support this initiative. So we are certainly going to give it a plug.

But before we do, just our usual little rant. We are in the business of convincing the world (or whoever wants to listen) that those over 50 are very much part of the mainstream; in the workplace, in the midst of the family, and in society at large. So I took a little tour of the Silver Surfers’ Day website and entered the door marked “Music Maestro”. I must admit I like free music as much as anybody. But imagine my horror at what I found.

I was brought up on Glenn Miller music (unless I could escape to my room). My parents played it all the time. They danced to it during the war, long before I was born. Anyone who was about twenty at that time is now in their mid to late eighties! Hardly music to appeal the vast majority of the over 5Os then. I rest my case.

However, back to the Day itself.

Check out these links and see where they take you.

http://www.chichesterdesign.co.uk/blog/chichester-design-helps-over-50s-get-online-with-silver-surfers%E2%80%99-day/

http://www.silversurfersday.org.uk/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8679999.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00sbdjn/Jeremy_Vine_14_05_2010/

itea and Biscuits week and ‘Internet Champion Search’!

Age Concern and Help the Aged are looking for an Internet Champion to represent the charity and provide a leading light for the estimated 6.4 million people 65+ who have never used the internet, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

Many older people never have the chance to use the Internet, despite new research from Age Concern and Help the Aged finding that older people see the benefit of the internet with three in four people believing it to be a useful tool to stay in contact with friends and family (ICM survey 11-18 September 2009). The research also found that 61% of older people believe the internet to be a useful way of making savings on products and services.

The Internet Champion – who will be a regular older person who has embraced the internet – will show older people that using the internet is a realistic possibility for them and that they too can reap the benefits of being online.

The winner of the Internet Champion search will receive a laptop computer, a complete BT package including BT Total Broadband, as well as an all-expenses paid trip to London. For more information visit www.ageconcern.org.uk/it.

itea and biscuits week, supported by BT, offers older people nationwide the opportunity to get involved in technology ’taster sessions’ at local Age Concerns and other supporting organisations from September 21 to 25.

What is a regular older person?

The Internet Champion search aims to find an ordinary person (aged 55+) who has recently learned to use the internet and whose personal story can inspire others. The search will begin on 21 September 2009 and end on 13 November 2009 with the winner being selected by a panel of judges from Age Concern and Help the Aged. To apply, candidates will need to fill in the Internet Champion application form which can be downloaded from www.ageconcern.org.uk/it.

 

He who knows not…..

As may be seen from our own approach here at in my prime we firmly believe that internet access and online activity is not only the future but is already the present. Accordingly, we very much welcome the Government’s Digital Britain Report and initiatives such as NESTA’s “Reboot Britain”.

It is, therefore, rather disconcerting to see in research carried out for Ofcom that not only is there a significant minority who do not have the internet but that many of them, particularly older people, have “self-excluded” themselves and do not see the need nor the value in getting to grips with the new technology.

We are now in a transition phase and many elderly people did not work in or were not brought up in a computerised environment. Their attitude is at least understandable. The learning curve for them is particularly steep – although that should not, in itself, be an excuse. I have experience of trying to help someone make the transition and there is much that can be done by the computer industry to make the experience easier for the elderly – core programs only, spam-free, virus-free, pop-up free, update restricted etc. etc.

But for those over 50s who have not yet reached this stage in their lives there is no excuse. Whether it be employability, keeping in the social mainstream, access to information, finances, improved purchasing power or a host of other uses and benefits, being connected is of paramount importance. Otherwise a truly second class citizenship will emerge and is already doing so.

Every encouragement, incentive and opportunity must be provided to bring people aboard. This is not another example of a nanny state telling us what is good for us and restricting the freedom of the individual – people must not be allowed to shy away.

He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool; avoid him.

He who knows not and knows that he knows not is a student; teach him.

He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep; wake him.

He who knows and knows that he knows is a wise man; follow him.

Ancient Proverb

Another one bites the dust!

This week has seen the demise of yet another high budget, high profile over 50s social networking/lifestyle site – this time in the USA. Its name is irrelevant since it is now history.

Here, at in my prime, we carry out global research on a daily basis covering all kinds of issues as they relate to the world’s ageing population and to older people (whatever that might mean exactly). Some while ago we wrote here about the nature of sites for the over 50s and the genuine need for subject specific social networking sites, for example ones which might bring together those seeking employment or those who have been out of work for some time. This time can be very lonely, frustrating and depressing in which knowledge, advice and mutual support would be of tremendous value. We are still waiting to see one but we know it will come.

Websites, currently, tend to fall into a number of categories. There are a few sites or blogs, rather like ours, which are run by professionals in the field and which provide useful information and commentary on what is happening in the over 50s arena. I will come back to those in a future blog.

For the rest they tend to fall into three main categories.

There are some very good sites emanating from charities and central or local government which provide a wealth of information and advice and which all “silver surfers” should refer to. They tend, on the whole, to be geared towards issues affecting the more elderly end of the age spectrum.

There are sites which are run as a hobby by old codgers for old codgers. These are cosy, friendly and non-threatening but, in the end, there is a limit to how many times one can laugh at a joke about going upstairs and not remembering why.

And there are those, the ones now falling by the wayside, which are what one might call “lifestyle” sites. These are based on the false premise that “older” is a condition that you wake up to one morning having been “younger” the day before and from now on all your friends only fit into the “older” category and anything you buy must be purchased from an age-specific site – insurance, washing machines, holidays – anything. Why?

The mature market (mature meerkat?) does not operate like that and does not want to operate like that.

Silver surfers on the increase

Last week we saw this year’s Silver Surfers Day (May 23) with initiatives all over the country aimed at getting the over 50s into the technological age. But the good news is that many are already there and leaving the youngsters behind. Over 50s now make up more than 30% of users and an overwhelming number have said that they believe that technology has “changed their lives for the better”.

Figures compiled by Virgin Media show increasing numbers of older people are using the internet to help them develop their social lives whether it is finding new friends through chat rooms or forums, for hobbies or for romance.

And just as we reported that mobile phones were being developed with older users in mind, so we can report that Microsoft is working to develop a PC which will be easier to use and potentially cheaper. This may seem patronising to some but if it allows more people to begin to take advantage of the huge benefits of digital inclusion then we are all for it. As we have intimated in the past we believe that keeping abreast of technology will be one of the keys to a successful and happy old age for most of us who are now in our prime. So even if you’re not hugely interested, we suggest it’s worth making the effort to keep up with the latest technological developments as they emerge – progress in this arena is so rapid, it can be easy to be left behind.

Silver surfers come of age

Gradually the world is coming to terms with the fact that being over 50 does not involve “life, but not as we know it”. Nowhere is this more relevant than in the realm of computer and internet knowledge and usage and, thankfully, we are beginning to see the end of terms such as “silver surfers” and “cyber wrinklies”. They will soon go the same way as “blue rinse brigade” and “grey pound”.

A recent poll of 3500 people over the age of 60, conducted by the networking site “alljoinon” provides a whole range of information showing just how much older people are wedded to the web and what they use the technology for. The average time people spend surfing the web is a staggering 2 hours per day.

But consider the notion in more detail and it doesn’t seem staggering at all. Older people have more time and, possibly, less mobility than their younger counterparts. They have been brought up used to being patient, to reading and to considering matters before making decisions. And we, in our prime, are not the confused old buffoons that the younger generation take us for. We can read instructions and we have as much (or as little) chance as the vast majority of youngsters at grappling with the inner workings of the machinery.

But the uses are virtually limitless: emailing to family or to friends far away; making business or social arrangements or running clubs or societies; shopping online, conveniently and at the best prices; arranging holidays; pursuing hobbies; photography; social networking; keeping mentally alert with quizzes and games such as chess and bridge; downloading music; obtaining medical and financial information and so on. In fact, as the survey found, once aboard it would leave a large hole in older people’s lives if it was taken away.

Furthermore, a survey for the credit card protection firm CPP showed that older users, in this particular case 45-54, are a lot more cautious and savvy than their younger brethren when it comes to online security. “It is surprising that young people take the most risks online, where you might assume that they would be much more ‘web aware’ than the internet’s older users,” said CPP identity theft expert, Danny Harrison.

He advised website users planning a transaction to check web pages were secure by looking for the padlock symbol in the right hand corner of the web page. The internet address prefix “https” should also help protect card details, he said.

And when it comes setting up our computers or fixing them when they go wrong then, if we can’t resolve it ourselves, we must treat the situation in much the same way as any other domestic problem – car, plumbing, electrics – we must be prepared to call in a specialist. There are now a number of readily accessible firms in existence, as recently reported in the Times (“Computer geeks to the rescue”).

The messages are there for all to see and not just for those who have retired. Those over 50 seeking employment must make sure that their skills are continually honed; otherwise they won’t be attractive prospects to employers. Advertisers must start to realise the enormous potential of the over 50s population and change their whole approach to the design and focus of web material. And individuals and government must start to realise the potential dangers of a two-tier society with regard to computer accessibility. A recent USA survey acknowledged that online ageism does indeed exist and needs to be addressed.

Unlike those that we might currently consider to be truly elderly, the present generation of in my primers will move into their later years well-equipped in the ways of modern technology which will become more and more part of our everyday lives. The European Parliament has, just this month, voted to devote 150 million euros over the next five years to a new research programme known as “ambient-assisted living”. The move is intended to help people live more independent lives in their old age. The 27-nation bloc’s ageing population will see a nearly 40 percent jump in the number of people aged 65 or older between 2010 and 2030, the European Commission has said.

“We need to make the Internet more accessible and make training available and allow elderly people to stay socially connected and to perform daily activities which can be facilitated, such as shopping, paying bills and making appointments,” said parliament member Neena Gill of Britain.

The European Commission hopes the research into information technology for older people will foster telemedicine, where people obtain a diagnosis and other medical advice online, and other aids such as turning all but one light off when going to bed. Technology can also be used to check for water and gas leaks and making sure windows and doors are locked when leaving the house.

And so I say a hearty “Hi Yo Silver (surfer)!”

Book Review

Silver surfer’s colour guide to travel and holidays

Simon and Susan Veness, Published by Foulsham, 2007

If you’re in the middle of the post-Christmas, mid-winter gloom, holiday planning process, you’ll love this hugely useful guide to researching travel and holidays on the internet. It’s practical, comprehensive and written largely for the UK market by a highly experienced husband and wife team who have been working and researching online for the past ten years.

 

Regardless of your existing level of expertise in internet searching, this simple, step-by-step handbook tells you everything you need to know about online travel from your first ideas of where to go through to the full booking process, taking in hotels, flights, sightseeing, insurance, and much more in between. Not only is it an easy read but there are loads of handy screenshots and illustrations to make the process extra clear.

 

These days, the complexity of options and prices on offer in respect of every aspect of travel can be daunting. So, even if you consider yourself an internet whizz, you’ll find the book contains masses of tips to help you access exactly what you want and get the best deal.